History

Mikron Group

Automation Solutions

Machining Solutions

1908–1960

The era of the founders and pioneers

Maschinenfabrik Mikron AG was founded in the Swiss town of Biel in 1908. In the first half of the last century, Mikron played a key role in the industrialization of the Swiss watchmaking industry with its gear-cutting machines and tools.

1908On April 20, the watch manufacturer Karl Lüthy established Maschinenfabrik Mikron AG in Biel/Bienne by taking over Henri Hauser's mechanical workshop, which had a staff of 35. As the first Managing Director of his factory, he chose Marc Woiblet.

1909Woiblet called in William Dubois, a gifted technician and designer, to assist him. Both men shared a passion for the watchmaking industry and precision engineering. Entirely in keeping with the Swiss tradition of watchmaking, they dedicated themselves heart and soul to precision.

1912 Mikron presented its first gear hobbing machine and the first hob for cycloid tooth forms - pioneering achievements indeed.

1921Mikron launched the first universal gear cutting machine on the market. For the first time, this product enabled the firm to tap a broad-based group of customers, including some outside the watchmaking industry.

1935The then Managing Director, Marc Woiblet, became Chairman of the Board and William Dubois was appointed as the new Managing Director one year later. The ensuing period saw the continued development of machines and tools.

1938Mikron introduced its first pension plan for employees.

1954William Dubois died and the technical development within the firm was "orphaned" and the era of the founders and pioneers was drawing to a close.

1956In a period of economic upturn, Mikron established a significant expansion of production capacity.

1958A deep recession began. Despite great privations, Mikron had survived two world wars and the intervening economic crises unscathed, so it would also be able to pass this new acid test.

1961–1985

Expansion and diversification

From 1960 onwards, Mikron gradually expanded its activities into new areas, such as milling machines, plastic components, and machining systems.

1961Mikron launched an extensive development programme lasting several years and encompassing every area of the firm, with the advent of new technical developments, expanded production capacity and a modernized organization. This was the start of an era of expansion and diversification.

1961The new established Mikron Holding AG acquired Maschinenfabrik Mikron AG as its first subsidiary.

1962On January 1, Mikron acquired Haesler SA of Boudry, Switzerland, the producer of transfer machines. In the same year Mikron stopped producing bench lathes, ébauche machines and milling machines, and invested in an electro-erosion department to manufacture milling cutters and, later on, injection molds.

1963Mikron took over J. Goulder & Sons Ltd. of Huddersfield, UK, a manufacturer of gear testing machines which was renamed Goulder Mikron. The same year saw the establishment of the company's own pension fund in which white- and blue-collar employees were given equal status in all respects. The reorganization of the pension scheme also led to the introduction of monthly pay for all employees.

1966Mikron resumed its traditional manufacture of milling machines with the launch of a new generation of universal tool milling machines.

1970As metal gearwheels were replaced by plastic versions, the firm opened its Plastics Department and began producing plastic parts. The preceding years had seen increasingly frequent requests from major customers for finished injection-molded parts instead of the injection molds that the firm supplied.

1976The primary assembly system based on the rotary indexing technology is launched: the Polyfactor™.

1977Marked the launch of Mikron's first assembly machine, as a reaction to the increasing automation of industry in general and declining sales in the watchmaking industry.

1978Mikron US Corporation was established as a sales company at South Norwalk, CT/USA. Four years later, it relocated to Monroe, CT/USA and became a production facility.

1983Mikron became a 100% public corporation with the public placement of the majority package of registered shares by the Gasser family.

1986 – 1996

Globalization

In 1986 Mikron acquired Albe SA of Agno, Switzerland, together with its sales branch in Tokyo, Japan. This was a step towards strategic growth which made Mikron the world's most important manufacturer of machining systems in a specific application area.

1986Mikron acquired Albe SA of Agno, Switzerland, together with its sales branch in Tokyo, Japan. This was a step towards strategic growth which made Mikron the world's most important manufacturer of machining systems in a specific application area.

1986Mikron started operations with a strategic partner (today Swisstec) in China.

1987Marked the start of a focused reorientation of the Machining and Assembly Systems division that was to last several years: the range was streamlined, new developments were pushed forward and the production of machining systems was concentrated in Agno.

1988Manufacturing of the Multifactor™ machining systems moved from Mikron SA Boudry, Switzerland, to Agno. Launch of the PM-30 rotary indexing machine.

1989Saw the market launch of Mikron's first machining centre, in cooperation with Beaver Engineering Group plc, of the UK. The same year marked the start of an extensive three-year investment programme intended to enable Mikron to exploit its potential in view of forthcoming changes.

1990 Establishment of Mikron GmbH Rottweil (Germany) as a sales and service company. Launch of the Multistar™ LX-24 machining system for the writing instrument industry.

1990On June 27 an attempted hostile takeover by a group of shareholders headed by the financier Werner Fleischmann was warded off at an Extraordinary General Meeting, bringing a nine-month defensive campaign to an end.

1992 Launch of the Multistar™ LX-24 machining system for industrial applications beyond the writing instrument industry.

1993 Launch of the Multistep™ machining system.

1994Development of the linear assembly solution Flexifactor™, a concept based on the standard Flexcell™ cell.

1995Following the economic crisis between 1991 and 1993 the Millling Machines division was about to enter into a strategic alliance. The other three divisions were in very good shape.

1997–2007

The boom – and a reorientation

With modern management and a contemporary range, Mikron was nevertheless heavily dependent on its customers' scope for investment, so it aimed to add more balance to its portfolio. As a visible sign of this change, Mikron introduced its current corporate design and took the new name of Mikron Technology Group.

1997Mikron was at a turning point. With modern management and a contemporary range, the firm was nevertheless heavily dependent on its customers' scope for investment, so it aimed to add more balance to its portfolio. As a visible sign of this change, Mikron introduced its current corporate design and took the new name of Mikron Technology Group to reflect the growth it was planning to achieve.

1997Introduction of the robotic assembly cell Syfast™.

1998With the establishment of Mikron Tool SA Agno in 1998, Mikron made the cutting tool business independent. The same year saw the acquisition of CEI Automation Inc. of Aurora, CO/USA, a manufacturer of automation solutions, which was given the new name of Mikron Corp. Denver. Both these moves strengthened the machines business.

1999The manufacturing of the Multistep™ machining system is moved from Mikron SA Agno to Rottweil. Launch of the CrazyDrillTM high-performance drill line: a full carbide metal drill with a premium-quality coating.

2000Mikron sold its milling machines and machining centres business to the Swiss Agie Charmilles Group, exiting form another business area that had a historic association with the Mikron brand. The transformation from machine manufacturer to technology group was completed.

2000High expectations of the mobile phone market drove up the share price for component manufacturer Mikron to over CHF 1,500.

2002After the loss of its main customer restructuring of the entire Mikron Group was required with closing of factories, cutting of staff and selling of its less strategically important participations.

2002 Launch of the new high performance linear assembly system G05™, the first to allow speeds of more than 100 cycles per minute and enabling unrivalled precision in assembly.

2002 Launch of the Multistar™ LX-12 machining system, designed for entry into the high-volume machining market. Launch of CrazyDrill™ Pilot, a high-performance drill for the centering and drilling of a pilot hole together with a simultaneous 90° chamfer cut. ISO 9001 certification for quality of Mikron Tool SA Agno.

2003Restructuring of the balance sheet at the Extraordinary General Meeting June 18, which succeeded thanks to the intervention of a group of Swiss industrial investors headed by Board Member Johann Niklaus Schneider-Ammann, together with cooperation from lenders.

2007Launch of the Multistep™ XT-200 machining system. Expansion of the standard cutting tool offering by MiquDrill™ and profile cutters.

2008–2016

New prospects

The global economic crisis and the strong Swiss franc also result in high losses for the Mikron Group. The divisions and companies respond to this challenge by increasing productivity and expanding their activities both in Asia and in the area of cutting tools.

2008The global economic crisis and the strong Swiss franc also resulted in high losses for the Mikron Group. The divisions and companies responded to this challenge by increasing productivity and expanding their activities both in Asia and in the area of cutting tools.

2008Foundation of Mikron Shanghai in China, which primarily manufactures subsystems for Mikron Automation, but also acts as a service hub for Mikron Machining.

2008 and 2009Launch of CrazyDrill™ Crosspilot, a pilot drill for inclined surfaces, and CrazyDrill™ Twicenter, a center drill with two integrated cooling ducts.

2009Launch of the chamfer mills CrazyMill™ Frontchamfer and CrazyMill™ Backchamfer.

2010Launch of the new Mikron EcoLine™ medium-volume automation platform developed and built in Singapore. Based on the use of standard modules it offers flexibility and modularity.

2011Launch of the Multistar NX-24 machining system. The CNC-controlled Multistar NX-24 provides significantly more flexibility with a minimal reduction in production rate.

2012Mikron expanded the automation business by acquiring the IMA Automation Berlin GmbH and strengthened its position by integrating the company as an independent unit within its Automation division.

2012Mikron Shanghai was the final group company to gain the ISO 9001 quality certificate.

2013Mikron Machining launches the small milling cutter CrazyMill Cool and the Mikron NRG “Plus”. The CrazyMill Cool sets new benchmarks for cutting speeds, feeds, performance, tool life and surface quality., while the Mikron NRG “Plus” rotary transfer machine concept impresses with its flexibility, productivity and accuracy.

Mikron Automation strengthens its presence in China. The production of the basic module for Mikron EcoLine is relocated from Singapore to Shanghai.

2014Following the first deliveries of Mikron NRG machines to the USA at the end of 2013, Mikron Machining sells the first Mikron Multistep XT-200 machining system to a US customer.

Mikron launches the Mikron Management & Leadership Training Program. Selected employees from various countries, sites and departments can take part in the program.

The Automation division expands its facilities and capacity for handling large global projects by dividing up the tasks between various companies. The Berlin site delivers the first assembly cells based on the standardized Mikron G05 platform.

2015Mikron Automation reinforces its commitment in the US and strengthens its presence in the US market by building a new factory in Denver. This increases the engineering and production space by over 30% and headcount to more than 100.

Mikron Automation starts engineering the first customer projects that will have the innovative new machine control software implemented. Both, for the customer and Mikron, this will lead to a significant gain of efficiency.

Mikron Tool opens its new Technology Center with a team of specialists dedicated to carrying out machining tests on the different CNC machining centers. The center will be used for sales partner training, new product testing and development, and machining projects with customers.

Mikron’s first new full CNC high-precision rotary transfer machine, the Mikron VX-10 , goes into final production. This machine is based on the tried-and-tested Mikron NAM and combines the advantages of bar/wire feed with those of a rotary transfer machine. Furthermore, a new loading concept was presented at EMO 2015 for the Mikron Multistep XT-200 machining system.

2016Mikron Machining in Agno delivers the thousandth Mikron Multistar LX-24. The machine is destined for a customer in China, who produces up to 600 ballpoint pen tips a minute on it. Mikron Automation assembles the thousandth process module for any of its assembly lines at its standard factory located at Mikron SA Boudry.

Mikron continues to strengthen the skills of its employees by continuing the Management & Leadership Training program and implementing a new set of training courses for all Project Managers.

Mikron Automation presents its latest version of the Totem interface to manage multiple vision cameras, as well as its new PC control software "Mikron Object Oriented Software".

At Mikron Corporation Denver, the first three Senior high school students from Cherry Creek School District start their US Department of Labor approved apprenticeship.

Mikron Tool launches a high-performance small diameter carbide drill with internal cooling to reduce the heat at the tip and optimal chip removal.

The global economic crisis and the strong Swiss franc also result in high losses for the Mikron Group. The divisions and companies respond to this challenge by increasing productivity and expanding their activities both in Asia and in the area of cutting tools.

1918Charles Léon Haesler founds a small manufacturing company making machinery and equipment for the watch industry in Le Locle, Switzerland. The machines are based on rotary indexing table technology.

1961The company is acquired by Mikron and becomes Mikron Haesler SA.

1976The primary assembly system based on the rotary indexing technology is launched: the Polyfactor™.

2010 Launch of the new Mikron EcoLine™ medium-volume automation platform developed and built in Singapore.

The Assembly Technology division is amalgamated with the Integral Systems companies and commences operations under the new name of "Mikron Automation".

2011 Launch of the Mikron EcoPal™ palletizer systems developed and built in Singapore.

2012Acquisition of IMA Automation Berlin GmbH.

2013The production of the basic module for Mikron EcoLine is relocated from Singapore to Shanghai.

2014The Automation division expands its facilities and capacity for handling large global projects by dividing up the tasks between various companies. The Berlin site delivers the first assembly cells based on the standardized Mikron G05 platform.

2015Mikron Automation reinforces its commitment in the US and strengthens its presence in the US market by building a new factory in Denver. This increases the engineering and production space by over 30% and headcount to more than 100.

Mikron Automation starts engineering the first customer projects that will have the innovative new machine control software implemented. Both, for the customer and Mikron, this will lead to a significant gain of efficiency.

2016Mikron Automation presents its latest version of the Totem interface to manage multiple vision cameras, as well as its new PC control software "Mikron Object Oriented Software".

At Mikron Corporation Denver, the first three Senior high school students from Cherry Creek School District start their US Department of Labor approved apprenticeship.

The history of Mikron Machining has been linked closely to the advent of the ballpoint pen. At the end of the 1950s, Albe’s automatic indexing tables played a major part in the global breakthrough of the ballpoint pen. Albe was the supplier of choice to companies such as Parker, Waterman and PaperMate in the US. Following the takeover of the company by Mikron in 1986, the range of expertise has expanded and nowadays the company specializes in building transfer systems for a wide range of industrial applications.

1953The Albe Machine Factory is established by Sauro Albertini and Guido Bertoglio at Lugano-Viganello, Switzerland. Design and construction of automatic indexing tables for the production of tips for ballpoint pens.

1986 The company is acquired by Mikron and becomes Mikron SA Agno.

1988Manufacturing of the Multifactor™ machining system is moved from Mikron SA Boudry, Switzerland, to Agno. Launch of the PM-30 rotary indexing machine.

1990 Establishment of Mikron GmbH Rottweil (Germany) as a sales and service company. Launch of the Multistar™ LX-24 machining system for the writing instrument industry.

1992 Launch of the Multistar™ LX-24 machining system for industrial applications beyond the writing instrument industry.

1993 Launch of the Multistep™ machining system.

1998 Establishment of Mikron Tool SA Agno as a spin-off of the cutting tools department of Mikron SA Agno. Mikron GmbH Rottweil moves to a new location and is transformed into a production facility.

1999The manufacturing of the Multistep™ machining system is moved from Mikron SA Agno to Rottweil. Launch of CrazyDrill™, a separate line of high-performance drill bits. Launch of CrazyDrill™ Steel, carbide drills with top-quality coating.

2002 Launch of the Multistar™ LX-12 machining system, designed for entry into the high-volume machining market. Launch of CrazyDrill™ Pilot, a high-performance drill for the centering and drilling of a pilot hole together with a simultaneous 90° chamfer cut. ISO 9001 certification for quality of Mikron Tool SA Agno.